Amitabh Nag of Florida Tech has conducted a study at the Kennedy Space Center that could give researchers a better understanding of the effects of lightning safety protocols and protection of mission and assets. His work was published in Atmospheric Research.

“We found that even if lightning was striking the ground nearby there were upward leaders produced from the tower, and they remained unconnected to the main discharge from the cloud,” Nag said. “These have significant amounts of electric charge and currents in excess of 100 amps associated with them and can pose a threat.”